Paedophile Gary Glitter freed from UK prison, child sex abuse sentence half served

British pop star Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, in 2015. He was released from prison on Friday after serving half of a 16-year prison sentence for sexually abusing three young girls in the 1970s. Photo / AP

Former pop star Gary Glitter was released from prison in England on Friday after serving half of a 16-year prison sentence for sexually abusing three young girls in the 1970s.

The 79-year-old singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was freed from a prison in Dorset, in southwest England.

It is common for offenders in the UK to be freed halfway through their sentences and then be placed on probation.

“Sex offenders like Paul Gadd are closely monitored by the police and Probation Service and face some of the strictest licence conditions, including being fitted with a GPS tag,” the Ministry of Justice said in a statement.

“If the offender breaches these conditions at any point, they can go back behind bars.”

The singer was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.

Glitter was arrested in October 2012 under Operation Yewtree, the national investigation launched in the wake of the child abuse scandal surrounding the late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile.

Glitter is best known for the hit Rock & Roll (Part 2), released in 1972, but he fell into disgrace after being convicted on child abuse charges in Vietnam. - AP

SEXUAL HARM - DO YOU NEED HELP?

If it’s an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

If you’ve ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone contact the Safe to Talk confidential crisis helpline on:

• Text 4334 and they will respond.

• Email support@safetotalk.nz.

• Visit https://safetotalk.nz/contact-us/ for an online chat.

Alternatively, contact your local police station - click here for a list.

If you have been abused, remember it’s not your fault.